Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

Know Before You Go

Know Before You Go

Join Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. In his Letter to the Colossians, Paul reminds us that as Christians, we have all put on a new self, which brings with it a new and more exalted identity. We need to live up to this new identity, lest we be hypocrites... or, as Qoheleth reminds us in the first reading, lest it be "vanity of vanities."

Timeline:00:00 Introduction by Fr. Charlie Bouchard
00:20 Clothing as Social Signal
00:47 Examples from Awards Shows and Military
01:44 Clothing in the Church and Papal Vestments
02:52 Clothes as Identity or Disguise
03:56 Scriptural Language of Clothing
04:58 Paul's Call to "Put on Christ"
05:23 Vanity vs. True Identity in Christ
06:18 Liturgical Examples: Easter and First Communion
07:11 The Christian Life as Becoming Christ
07:40 The Habit as a Reminder of Baptism
08:11 Final Prayer and Reflection

Dominican recording video

Know Before You Go is a ministry of the provincial office to help people prepare to hear the readings and preaching of the approaching Sunday's Mass. We welcome any feedback you have at know@opcentral.org . You can see them all below, or you can see other preaching by a particular person by clicking on his name.

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  •

    The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Forgive One Another

    Join Fr. Brendan Curran, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. In the first reading (Genesis 18:20-32), Moses and God go to Sodom, where people have been gossiping about how bad they are. Moses gets God to admit that he is in the end forgiving, and would forgive Sodom for the smallest reason. Are we quick to condemn groups of people (think immigrants, muslims) because we have heard rumors about them?
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    The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Join Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the first reading, Abraham unknowingly offers hospitality to angels. In the Gospel, Jesus' friend Mary sits at his feet listening to his teaching, leaving her sister Martha to do the work of hospitality. Fr. Charlie uses this scene to break open the Christian understanding of the relationship between contemplation and action, showing how be all need to do both and to let each one inform the other. He also puts forth that contemplation is like offering hospitality to God within your own heart.
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    The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our first reading from Deuteronomy, we learn that God's Law is already inside us. We don't need to go looking for it.
    In the second reading from Paul's Letter to the Colossians, we hear of how Christ is the center of all things.
    For a Gospel, we have the classic parable of the Good Samaritan, and are confronted with the question of who is our neighbor today? If it is the one in front of us in need, it seems as if the answer in the United States is the recent immigrant. What should we do about that as faithful Christians?
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    The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Join Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our first reading, we have a lovely image of God as our Mother. We know that God transcends our human male/female divides, but we don't often use these feminine images of God, so they are to be treasured.

    In the Gospel we have Jesus sending out the 72 ahead of him to prepare the way. They are to take nothing for the journey, and are to preach a simple message of peace and to heal those who are willing to accept it. Can we be simply people of peace instead of people who argue for our point of view? Can we measure success by finding signs of the Kingdom of Heaven in our world and bringing it peace rather than using other "worldly" measures?
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    The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

    In this Know Before You Go video, Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP reflects on the readings for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, exploring Peter and Paul's contrasting personalities and leadership styles through different readings from the vigil and daytime Masses. Their lives and ministries reveal the diversity of ways God calls leaders, highlighting that faithfulness—not uniformity—is what unites the Church.
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    The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

    Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP in the Know Before You Go video for the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. Surprisingly, we get Jesus' words instituting the Eucharist not in the Gospel, but from the second readings, Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians. The Gospel challenges us with a feeding miracle of Jesus from Luke in which Jesus challenges the twelve to feed the crowds themselves. Fr. Jim then relates this with similar calls from Pope Francis and Pope Leo for us all to do something to care for refugees and migrants.
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    The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

    Join Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP in the Know Before You Go video for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. As Christians, we believe in the One God, who created heaven and earth, and also that the One God exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Here we explore what it means to believe in a God that fundamentally three in one, a community of love whose unity preserves the diversity of each.
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    Pentecost

    Join Fr. Charlie Bouchard O.P. of the Dominican Friars (Province of St. Albert the Great) for a powerful homily on the Feast of Pentecost where we dive deep into the coming of the Holy Spirit, the "Forgotten Person of the Trinity" if you're seeking a meaningful Pentecost reflection, tools to discern your spiritual gifts, or a deeper encounter with the Holy Spirit, this Catholic homily offers clarity, encouragement, and spiritual depth.
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    Ascension Sunday

    Join Fr. Brendan Curran, OP in exploring the readings for Ascension Sunday, where we don't so much celebrate Jesus' leaving, but in his leaving his mission to us, promising the gifts of the Holy Spirit to enable us to accomplish it.
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    Unity, Boundaries, the Holy Spirit & God’s Victory (Catholic Homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter)

    Join Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP as he breaks open the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter. This Sunday there are many options, but it begins with setting boundaries in the new Christian community (Acts 15), then the Book of Revelation's promise that Jesus will return and remake the world, and finally a promise from the Gospel of John either that God will send the Holy Spirit to keep us bound as one or that God's love will bind us together.
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    The Fifth Sunday of Easter

    God’s promise of a “new heaven and new earth” isn’t just for the future—it begins today through our choices. God dwells with us NOW. Are we building His kingdom—or tearing it down?
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    The Fourth Sunday of Easter

    The Fourth Sunday of Easter scriptures shed light on the significant events of Pope Francis' passing and the election of Pope Leo XIV. Discover surprising parallels in the readings about community, leadership (the Lamb and Shepherd), and the joy of the Gospel message for all.
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    The Third Sunday of Easter

    In this insightful homily, Br. Joe explores the Gospel of John (John 21:1-19), where the Risen Jesus appears to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Why did Simon Peter go back to fishing? Br. Joe delves into the disciples' confusion after the Resurrection and how Peter returned to what he knew. Discover how this moment becomes a "second calling," mirroring their first encounter with Christ and commissioning them for a new ministry.
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    Divine Mercy Sunday

    Listen to this explanation of the readings by Fr. Brendan Curran, OP, for the Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. Preached in Puerto Rico, this reflection draws inspiration from the Acts of the Apostles and the powerful ways God worked through the early Church. The homily also includes a remembrance of the recently deceased Pope Francis, offering a message of hope and continuity in faith during times of transition.
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    Easter Sunday: He is Risen! Embrace New Life!

    Join us as we explore the profound mystery of the empty tomb as recounted in the Gospels of John (Chapter 20) and Luke. We'll unpack the experiences of Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John as they encounter the first signs of Jesus' triumph over death – the rolled-away stone, the burial cloths, the angelic message: "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?"
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    The Fifth Sunday of Lent

    This week, we explore God's promise of "something new" from Isaiah, St. Paul's relentless pursuit of Christ in Philippians, and the powerful Gospel story of Jesus, the woman caught in adultery, and the law written in stone versus the mercy written in sand.
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    The Fourth Sunday of Lent: Repairing What's Broken

    Join Br. Joe Trout, OP as he reflects on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent and how God works to make us better people. Time and again we see in the scriptures that the people God chooses are not necessarily the best people. They are not perfect, but God works with them to fix their faults and make them into better people.
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    The Second Sunday of Lent

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, in which Peter, James, and John go up the mountain with Jesus and he is transfigured before them, and God tells them, "This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him." As their faith was strengthened by this event, our faith should be strengthened as we journey through Lent, so that at the end of it no storm will be able to shake our faith in the God to whom we cling.

    Readings: Genesis 15:5-12,​17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 9:28-36
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    The First Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the first Sunday of Lent, Jesus being led out through the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by the devil. The forty days serve as a chance for Jesus to solidify his faith so that he can easily resist the snares of the devil. May our Lenten journeys do the same.

    Readings: Deuteronomy 26:4–10; Romans 10:8–13; Luke 4:1–13

    (Photo of Second Temple in Jerusalem By Ariely - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4533576)
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    The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP breaks open the readings for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time with its warnings against hypocrisy. While this is always difficult, we can help by working on shortening the gap between who we are and who we want to be.

    Readings: Sirach 27:4–7; 1 Corinthians 15:54–58; Luke 6:39–45
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    The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, explaining how sometimes God's words are hard to understand, and sometimes they are hard to do. It is easy to turn our backs on the needy and on our opponents, but it is important to nonetheless live up to our call as Christians.

    Readings: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7–9, 12–13, 22–23; 1 Corinthians 15:45–49; Luke 6:27–38
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    The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, exploring how we can discern true prophets from false prophets. The Prophet Jeremiah reminds us to expect our faith to flourish like a tree planted by a river that fears no doubt. St. Paul reminds us to root our faith in the resurrection of Christ. And our Gospel is Luke's version of the Beatitudes, which matches each "Blessed are you" with a corresponding "woe are you" to that while he gives comfort to the poor, he also warns of the dangers that riches bring, and while he praises trues prophets, who always invite trouble on themselves, he warms against being false prophets, who get praised by all because they tell them what they want to hear instead of speaking God's truth, which is usually challenging.

    Readings: Jeremiah 17:5–8; 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16–20; Luke 6:17, 20–26
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